THE PUBLIC.

INDEED! Some very delicately patriotic gentleman censures us in a (by the bye) communication, for calling the public, in our third number, a many headed monster-a hydra.-Let us reply to this gentleman, by saying, that we will take as many liberties with the public as honest intentions will permit—but we deny that our term was unappropriate-for were all the heads of the public as delicately fair as those of our most beautiful females, no one could deny that their lower limba were rather "scaly."

And does not such a being form a monster?

GENTLEMEN,

To our brother Editors of New-York.

We strongly and feelingly recommend to your encouragement and protection, the talents of Mr. Poe. He has talents, and they may be improved or ruined by your just or incautious observations. We think, that the duty of an editor is first to feel, next to weigh, and lastly to determine. We are well aware of the errors of this gentleman, but we know that such errors have frequently been introduced by unfeeling criticism. It is disgraceful in any editor to make actors on the stage a mere,mark to shoot at.-If your intentions are to do good, encourage; If after you have done your duty, they do not improve-censure freely. N. N.

Theatre, Wednesday, Dec. 13th, 1809.

ADELGITHA, AND THE SIXTY THIRD LETTER.

AND silence was in the galleries.

Thursday, Dec. 14th, 1809.

ADELGITHA, OR THE FRUITS OF A SINGLE ERROR.

By M. G. Lewis.

Ir is in the power of genius to give to vice so delicate a covering that it may sometimes be mistaken for virtue-it is the duty of every avowed espouser of the public cause to draw aside her every veil, and shew her as she is.

We have now three times witnessed the performance of this play; and however "uncandid or ungenerous" we may appear, we shall still give our own opinions, unbiassed and unfettered.

With respect to an historical display of real character, this tragedy is avowedly incorrect. It was not intended as a branch of history by the

author, and consequently it only remains for us to remind our readers that they are only safe in considering it as a fable, to which some heroic names, without their corresponding characters have been attached.

A play may be moral in its general tendency and immoral in its particular parts; on the other hand, a play may be replete with sentiments of moral feature, and immoral in its general effect.

Our modern plays, like certain animals, can enjoy salutary existence only in a peculiar atmosphere, and to that atmosphere we could almost wish them confined; at least, till dramatic authors shall have firmness and ability to build their beauties on the broad base of nature-then, like Shakespeare, might they be approved in every country-for nature every where prevails.

A play may have a moral tendency in one country, and an immoral tendency in all others; what will tend to correct vice in one place may introduce it to another; of this we have fatal proofs-where vices are general, popularity glosses them with the title of errors-where they are less common, let us, for virtue's sake, still call them "vices."

Upon this principle we shall make our observations on this tragedy. In the first place we are informed by its second title, that it exhibits, "The fruits of a single error." A single error !—before the exhibition of the play we had been induced to expect, that we should have received a lesson something like that delivered to us by the amiable Cowper-to teach us how the minutest pleasure, if indulged to excess, would lead to vice-but in the course of the performance we found, to our great astonishment, that this "single error" was-not-being too much attached to dancing, music, parties, &c. "innocent in themselves, but dangerous in the excess;" but that this "single error" was the willing sacrifice of the ornament of creation-the honour of a female.

This virtuous woman, after having given birth to a son-marries the prince of Apulia, and lives with him in honour and happiness twelve years.

"Pictoribus atque poetis

Quidlibet audendi semper fuit æqua potestas."

We will therefore not attempt a discussion on the propriety of this incident, but proceed.

Our opinion changes with the character. Adelgitha lives twelve years beloving and beloved, virtuous, honoured, and happy-of course repentant-deserving, as supposed, the character described by Dercetus.

"The model of all wives, all women;

"Whose passion for her lord-on man ne'er doated
"Woman, as doats on Guiscard Adelgitha.”

Admitting then that she had so lived for twelve years, we should be sorry to be informed that any pagan philosophy, natural morality, or christianity could condemn such a woman.

The sweetest voice that ever sounded to humanity, has declared that there is more joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, than over ninety and nine just persons who need no repentance. And great as was her first crime-did not Adelgitha repent? and after that repentance did she not live in the practice of every virtue, at least twelve years? can human justice doom such merit to punishment-to death?

Adelgitha was in our opinion in the first instance guilty of the greatest crime a female can commit but from the moment of an approved sincere repentance in our own wife or daughters we would see that crime no more; it is not because we feel the honour of our family affected, that we should doom a human being to perdition; but because we respect the deity, that we should attempt to save.

""Tis in man's choice never to sin at all, but sinning once to stop exceeds his power." The latter part of this sentence demands we think the severest denunciation that critic honour can inflict.-What! if a man once sins must he necessarily proceed in sin? Oh no! let us open our doors to repentance; let us not encourage vice by refusing an asylum to repentant virtue ; let us remember that "to err is human, to forgive divine.” We mean not the foregoing observations as criticisms on the play, we do not pretend to criticise, we only make our remarks on the objects that fleet before us.

We have been highly gratified "in toto" (shocking words!) with every performer in this play, and notwithstanding all we have said against the play itself as a play-we venture (and we may without contradiction to ourselves) to recommend this tragedy to the public for its particular beauties, for they who perceive its defects will have sense enough to avoid their influence, and they who do not, may be bettered by the show of morality.

One thing particularly delights us in the respectable part of the Boston audience. We never hear a really moral sentiment delivered, or see a really moral action performed, without a free and liberal applause.―This looks well on the other hand, we find indecency applauded only where in a polished country it can be-by the galleries.

:

TOWN CLERK.

We thank the citizens of Boston for the honours they conferred on us on Wednesday last, by electing us to the office of Town Clerk. We declined however the acceptance of it, on principles of general utility, and heartily congratulate them on the success of our opponent.

NOBODY.

«"Tis caviare to the general."

On the table of Mr. Bruce, of Kinnaird, Scotland, was introduced a dish of bitter herbs, so called-to which as Mr. Bruce observed to the editor, Shakespeare alluded in this passage.

We care not for the insinuations daily propagated concerning the motives on which "Something" was established; we declare that we had but one, an honest maintenance for our family, entwined with a desire to do some good.

QUARREL.

THINK twice before you speak at all,

And four times ere you jar;

Eight times ere you begin to brawl,

And ten times ere you war.

Then, if your conscience says you're just,

With confidence contend;

And, your opponent honest, must

At last become your friend.

Two persons disputed, a harsh word ensued,
Pride oppos'd each assuasive amend;

Passion let loose the rein, till each hand was imbrued
In the basely-shed blood of a friend.

I enter'd-one word had occasion'd the breach,
Which I thought could be heal'd by another :
They lov'd, they accepted my offer, and each
With joy shook the hand of a brother.

COLLECTANEUM, WINDSOR (VERMONT.)

We are honoured by the notices of this respectable society, and shall be proud when we know that our mite is received into their treasury.

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.

Circular.—WE will not admit any thing that has a personal, a political, or indelicate allusion.

To "Somebody" we feel much indebted, and so much that for his sake we have returned his spirited translation, to the Post Office, of the jeu d'esprit of Catullus, that he may have an opportunity of recollecting the

character and the acquaintances of Catullus, and enable us with propriety, by a slight alteration of the concluding lines, to insert it in our next. Atticus and Cicero were friends, so were Catullus and Petronius, but each character was essentially different from the other.

We thank many for their good intentions, but they must not expect that every thing that is sent can be inserted.-If therefore any person should be hurt by his productions not appearing in print he should only blame himself.

We are ready to do justice to all, but we will not, and dare not fill "Something" with nothings.

To Celia-(but we hate such affected titles) we would whisper, did we know her, "Prudence."

It will of course occur to all anonymous correspondents that we must judge them by their productions. We think we have hinted enough, if not, we will say more.

A HINT TO A FRIEND.

By every object we behold,
From infinite to nought,
Some moral lesson we are told,
Or some new feeling taught.

Yes, nature bountiful as free,
If carefully we scan,
Exhibits every thing we see,
To be the guide of man.

A moth hover'd round us, while Julia in pain,
Still follow'd its fluttering maze;

From the flame she attempted to save it in vain,

She wept, as it scorch'd in the blaze.

Ah Julia! forgive, if affectionate care

Too strong a resemblance presumes:

The moth is the female that's dazzled by glare,

And fashion the blaze that consumes.

ERRATA.

AMONG other erratas of smaller importance, was an essential omission in our last number which in our hurry escaped notice.—In p. 61, first line, for "before the answers in favour of duelling," &c. it should have been, "before the answers to the arguments in favour of duelling.